Victoria Viewpoints: Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Wednesday, December 15, 2021
   

Coronavirus response in BC

Dix says Omicron variant upending holiday plans, health restrictions being considered

BC reports 584 new cases and 7 deaths, says new restrictions possible

BC to provide at-home COVID-19 rapid tests, but not until January

Interior health's 3 Omicron cases 'not travel-related'

Canada advising against non-essential travel abroad as Omicron spreads worldwide

Omicron could swamp BC Hospitals

Provinces expand access to free COVID-19 rapid testing kits

BC, Alberta taking wait-and-see approach to omicron as cases surge in the east

BC records 584 new cases of COVID-19 and 7 more deaths

As Omicron spreads, some provinces speeding up boosters, but not BC

BC health minister cautions against holiday travel as province reports 584 new cases

What happens if I travel when there's an advisory? How can rapid tests help?

Premier advises against  non-essential international travel over the holidays 

Worst-case Omicron scenario could see hospitals overwhelmed, new COVID modelling shows

Take home rapid COVID tests to be widely available in BC in new year, health minister says

Dix warns against non essential travel as Omicron spreads; BC rapid testing strategy coming

Globe and Mail

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CBC

Coquihalla Highway reopening to commercial traffic and inter-city buses on Dec 20

British Columbians drinking at higher rates than before, new study finds

Turkey barns packed, but inventory lowest in 20 years, says BC Turkey Marketing Board

Park Board installs 'Barge Chilling Beach' sign next to Vancouver's runaway barge

Engineers say better forecasting, co-ordinated warnings could protect BC from disasters

Chilliwack company and Ontario-based poultry processor fined $300K each for animal cruelty

BC sets new annual record for number of homes sold

BC man admits making hoax call to care home on the day it recorded Canada's 1st death

'Notices of liability' used by anti-vaccine, anti mandate groups are 'not a thing,' law professor says 

Vancouver Sun 

Coquihalla Highway reopens Monday to critical commercial traffic

'It's not just the pandemic': BC boozing hits 20 year high

Vancouver rental changes met with praise, skepticism and a threat

'Barge Chilling Beach" sign installed as park board gift to Vancouver

Everybody suffers from noisy restaurants and bars 

A nod to TMX expansion project for helping get Coquihalla repaired

Victoria Times-Colonist 

Record donation of $5M fro Lai family for health care in Greater Victoria 

Qualicum Beach airline loses lease at terminal over staff party where COVID rules were allegedly flouted

Field hockey players back on Island after being stuck in South Africa for weeks

Damaged containers being painstakingly unloaded from Zim Kingston at Duke Point

Province purchases former campground to expand Hornby Island beach park

Public vote guides spending of a portion of Victoria's budget

Charting the course for the safe return of our cruise-ship industry

Victoria News

BC alcohol consumption rates hit a 20 year peak in 2021

Penticton drops lawsuit against BC Housing: new shelter proposed

Aid coming for flood-struck BC livestock, vegetable farmers 

BC's Coquihalla Highway to reopen December 20 for essential traffic

BC waiting for take-home rapid COVID-19 tests to arrive in January

Global

BC's Coquihalla Highway set to reopen December 20 for commercial travel, buses

Vancouver woman brutally assaulted in Mexico recovering from surgery at home in BC

Video shows reckless BC driver trying to pass trucks and cars on Highway 3

Petition urges City of Surrey not to pay for Mayor's legal fees in alleged mischief case

Police release new photos of Vancouver park caretaker the day he was killed

BC's alcohol consumption highest in two decades during first year of COVID-19

Georgia Straight

Photos of Nuremberg hangings included in liability notices for employers, health officials, media, judiciary and unions

BCREA reports home sales set new best annual record and there's 'still one month to go in 2011"

The Tyee

Floated away and Found

Jason Kenney does nothing again 

Cascadia's chance for a Zero Carbon Future: What we Learned

Miscellaneous

Main BC highway to reopen to essential traffic by Monday after storms